ACTION: take a moment to help protect koalas from further harm and suffering

You may like me have seen the disturbing ABC 7.30 report last week exposing the devastating impact that logging of blue gums in Victoria is having on our precious koalas.

As their natural habitat dwindles, hundreds of koalas have made their homes in these private blue gum plantations. But what they thought was a safe refuge has become a dangerous place as they are met with the terror of harvesters and wood chopping machines.

These defenseless creatures don’t stand a chance against this onslaught- they are killed, maimed and orphaned as the trees they have made their home are hacked down by logging companies who then ship the logs and woodchip to China and Japan for paper production.

Wildlife caretakers have seen animals with horrific injuries including broken or severed limbs and broken backs. Many of them have died en route to the vets or their injuries are so bad they have to be euthanized.

The scale of the cruelty has only come to light because distressed plantation workers blew the whistle. Some have left the industry, unable to cope with the trauma and guilt of witnessing this horrific carnage.

Unbelievably, this is happening in our own backyard to one of our most treasured national icons – it is a disgrace.

There must be a halt to these destructive logging operations in koala inhabited areas until a full independent investigation is carried out and firm measures put in place to prevent any further devastating impact on koalas.

You can help by sending an email to the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine asking him to take decisive action to protect our precious koalas from further harm and suffering.